Wasserlochklamm: the Austrian paradise

Today, we are bringing something fresh to the blog. Here is my first post about Austria, my neighbour country at the moment. I could start by talking about its most important cities like Vienna, Salzburg, Graz... Or about its famous lakes or big mountains, however, I would rather start this chapter with a place in this country which isn't as well known, but will most definitely not leave you unimpressed.

It is called Wasserlochklamm. If we split it up word by word and translate each one, "Wasser" means water, "loch" means hole and "klamm" is something like cliff. Wasserlochklamm is a steep trail which goes up the mountain, from which several waterfalls fall with great force. This place is a three hour drive from Bratislava so in my opinion, it is a great weekend plan. There is a section of the road which is not a motorway but a national road and it can make it a little long, but the truth is that whilst I was in the car, I was surrounded by the huge Austrian mountains which were very impressive.

As I told you, it took us three hours to get there and as we knew that it was a trek, we ate just before going. The entrance cost 6.50 euros. It might seem expensive, but honestly, it is worth it. The route is long and the waterfalls are very impressive. We were able to get up very close to them. In fact, whilst we went up the mountain, the water hit us which we loved, since it was really warm.

To start off the route, first of all you must cross a suspension bridge which goes over the Salza river, which has crystal clear and blue water. When we went over it, we discovered that you can do rafting and honestly, we didn't do it because we didn't have enough time and we thought that you might have had to reserve it in advance. Maybe another time. I am telling you so that you know.

We started the journey with energy that got drained little by little. This route is for people who are in shape, if you want to do it in an hour, roughly. You can always do it more slowly, taking your time and relaxing, but the route is steep. Also, during the whole slope you up over wooden steps which are often slippery. During the whole journey we say different waterfalls whose water followed their course and broke off into the river.

When you buy the ticket to access the route, the person in charge gives you a map with all of the waterfalls that you can see. They are numbered and each one has its name written. If I remember rightly, there were 10 in total. The first waterfalls are not the best ones, in my opinion. They were really small because the terrain wasn't as steep. In fact, there were certain areas which were flat and they formed small "pool" where if the water wasn't freezing, you could go for a dip. Little by little you go about discovering different waterfalls, some bigger and some smaller, but all of them with a particular charm.

The 3km of the journey are accompanied by the sound of the water which flows really quickly and with great force. You really feel like you are in a very untouched are, right in the heart of Austria. When we went, we hardly came across people during the walk, which was another plus for Wasserlochklamm. When we finally got to the top, the views were amazing. Right there, there was a wooden hut where you could relax, have a snack and recuperate. Once your heart rate has lowered, you can peacefully admire the Austrian landscape: green mountains, tall trees, blue sky. We were there for a good while relaxing until it was time to head back. Luckily for us, the way back down was easier.

When we finally got back to the start, we really fancied going for a swim in the river since it was extremely hot. The river was very appetising despite the fact that its waters seemed wild due to their strong current. However, we put on our bikinis and tried the water. Freezing. It cut off our circulation and I really couldn't get in. Only one of our group did it. The rest of us splashed some water on our bodies to cool ourselves down.

Bearing all of this on mind, here are some pieces of advice:

1. Comfortable footwear. This is an essential. You will do basically the whole journey along a wooden staircase but there are certain areas where you will be on earth or mud. Also, the route is long so you will want to be comfortable to enjoy Wasserlochklamm completely.

2. Water bottle. It is essential, especially if it is a sunny and hot day. It is important to stay hydrated, especially when you are doing sports to be able to maintain your heart rate and avoid getting tired.

3. Go there in Spring or Summer. Check before going to see if it is open or not because if I remember rightly, in the winter it is closed to the public. This seems normal to me, because doing this whole route with snow and ice must be very dangerous and slippery.

4. Bring a bikini or swimming gear. Near to here there are some lakes where the water isn't really cold, such as Lunzer See, for example, which I will talk to you about in a different post. You will end up being tired and really warm and nothing will feel better than a good dip.

And that is everything for today. As a form of conclusion, I have to say out of all of the places that I have visited in Austria it is one of my favourites since it combines sport and nature. Also, if you do it with friends, it is even better. So, if you are in this area I think that it is a place that you should most definitely visit. When I travel to Austria, I always think about how lucky I am to have this country next door to me, since it has a lot to offer. And that is all from me, I hope that you have liked the photos (I personally love them) and of course, this place, Wasserlochklamm. I will see you soon with a lot more content.

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